"Your Highness,"
Hearing Li Xin's question, Xu Jianyin replied, "Because we considered the issue of mass production after the successful trial production, we standardized the production process for each component during the trial production."
The dimensions and production standards of each component are uniform.
Therefore, mass production is not a difficult task.
In the next few days, we will recruit some skilled workers, teach them the production standards for each component, and then we can start mass production.
However, steam engines have too many parts, so even with mass production, the output is estimated to be not very high. A rough estimate is that three or four steam engines could be produced each month.
Production may increase once more skilled workers are available.
"Three or four units?"
Li Xin wasn't disappointed. "It's already very good!"
Everything is difficult at the beginning. You have already taken the most difficult step, and mass production will be much easier from now on.
Take your time, no rush!
The railway lines in various places have not yet been completed.
The steam engine that has now been successfully tested will first be used in the mining area, which will also improve efficiency.
"Uh-huh."
Xu Jianyin nodded and said, "Your Highness, rest assured, we will strive to replace all the horse-drawn railcars in the mining area with steam locomotives before winter."
"Okay, I'll be waiting for your good news!"
Li Xin smiled and nodded.
The steam engine traveled forward for a distance, then turned around after leaving the city and returned to the Dongning Manufacturing Bureau.
The only incident was that it delayed the coal trucks in the mining area, causing one coal truck to temporarily stop.
After returning to the Dongning Manufacturing Bureau, Li Xin took this matter quite seriously.
After the railway was built, most of it was designed as double track, while in some remote areas and mountainous regions, single track design was used.
When steam locomotives are put into use, we will have to consider how to avoid bidirectional steam locomotives.
Especially near Dongning City, there are still a large number of horse-drawn railcars in operation, and how to avoid them is also a problem.
If this problem is not resolved properly, it could easily lead to a car accident.
Looking at Xu Jianyin and the others, Li Xin asked, "There are no more questions about the steam engine."
However, there is a problem with steam trains, I don't know if you've considered it.
"Your Highness, please speak."
Xu Jianyin looked at Li Xin and asked.
"The problem is very simple,"
Li Xin said, "On our way back, we encountered coal trucks stopping to give way to us."
I would like to ask you all, what should happen if two trains on the tracks collide without being alerted?
Have you considered how to prevent this kind of thing from happening?
"this……"
Xu Jianyin paused for a moment, then said, "During this period, when we were testing the steam train, we spent most of our time communicating with the Mining Bureau, Dongning Ironworks, and other relevant parties, and we also assigned tasks to the traffic officers at various intersections."
Therefore, we are confident that no such collisions will occur during this testing period.
“By doing this, no accidents will occur.”
Li Xin nodded, stared at Xu Jianyin, and asked, "Have you ever thought that if we explain things to each person one by one beforehand every time, wouldn't that be too time-consuming?"
Steam trains are still rare now, so perhaps it's possible. But in the future, when steam trains become more and more common, will a large number of people be needed every day to do this?
Not to mention, we also had to coordinate with the mining bureau to provide horse-drawn railcars.
"this……"
Xu Jianyin was indeed stunned. He shook his head and said, "Your Highness, I haven't really considered this matter. Please forgive me."
"It's alright."
Li Xin waved his hand, not criticizing Xu Jianyin too much.
After all, Xu Jianyin was in charge of the steam engine trial production, but the question he was asking now concerned railway transportation.
These two pieces may look the same, but they are actually quite different.
It's normal that Xu Jianyin didn't know.
"Your Highness,"
At this moment, a civil official behind him spoke up, "I have an idea, but I don't know if it will work."
Li Xin was taken aback. He turned around and recognized the man.
He was Duan Yongzhi, who was in charge of finance and accounting at the Dongning Manufacturing Bureau.
"Oh, what's your opinion?"
Li Xin smiled and asked, "Please speak freely."
"Your Highness,"
Duan Yongzhi began by saying, "In our accounting department, we are very particular about the details. Every penny has a clear origin and destination, and we can also trace the exact time of each transaction."
That's what made me think of it.
Nowadays, railway lines have many stations along their routes. If we were to compile the departure and arrival times of each train at each station, we could easily find a better information.
As long as there is only one vehicle traveling in the same direction within the same time period, there will be no problem.
For example, the Dongning Ironworks and the Dongning North Coal Distribution Center are not far apart. As long as we ensure that no second vehicle departs from the coal distribution center before the first vehicle reaches the Dongning Ironworks, we can avoid collisions.
"That's a great idea!"
Li Xin couldn't help but give a thumbs up.
Isn't this the same method used for train timetables?
He never expected that Duan Yongzhi's thinking was so flexible, and that it would coincide with the practices of later generations.
"But,"
Wei Dahai frowned and asked, "How much timeframe do you have for each vehicle?"
"The amount of time given was calculated based on the steam train's running time."
Duan Yongzhi continued, "For example, the travel time of a steam train fully loaded with coal between these two stations can be calculated."
We can also try running it once to find out the normal operating time, and then give it a certain amount of leeway.
For example, if the travel time between these two stations is 20 minutes, we can increase the total time to 30 or 40 minutes, and then ensure that during these 30 or 40 minutes, there is only one train on the same track in the same direction between the two stations.
Similarly, we can do the same on other lines!
Hearing Duan Yongzhi's words, Xu Jianyin suddenly realized, "I understand what you mean, this approach is indeed very good!"
But what if coal trucks and passenger buses operate simultaneously in the future? Passenger buses travel at high speeds; what if there's an emergency to transport troops?
"This is simple too."
Duan Yongzhi said, "In an emergency, we should handle it urgently. We should stop all other coal trucks."
As for how to avoid vehicles traveling at different speeds, I haven't figured it out yet.
"That's pretty good."
Li Xin nodded and said, "I'll just add one more thing!"
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